Visualisation for Software Management Claire Knight

Outline General introduction Background The importance of e Examples Future Opinions

Introduction BT Fellowship Program comprehension Visualisation Distributed system comprehension and visualisation Jigsaw

Background Corporate Data Planning for future changes Non-delete approach Decision recording Management tool What-if…

e-Science Culture Different focus Generalisation vs Parameterisation Solutions that work (at least now) Extensible solutions Research challenges for all Cultural differences

Organisational Effects Worst case – the entire system Best case – system accommodates necessary changes, minimal change Compound impact - unseen ripple effects Managerial not appreciating the technical

e-Issues I Different conceptual model Interoperability Communication Transactions Overheads

e-Issues II Non-localised resources Control and responsibility Paradigm shift for cost/expenditure Reliant on new technologies, themselves in infancy and subject to rapid change

Visualisation

Planning for the Future Key concept - plan and record Know current state Handle What if … Reduce future search space given new constraints Use historical knowledge for future decisions

Traffic light system Extra means of visual presentation Distinction between parts Parameterised and customisable Colour Coding

Timelines Trace through time Visual display of change System stack created, timelines as specific paths through Object representations pinpoint where exact information is known

Versions and Variants Objects – generic visual representation Present known facts Used for: Versions – next release Variants – forking Colour/filtering useful addition

Example – Objects

Example – Timelines

Example – Projections

Example – Scenario

Shaping e-Science Projects

Software System Evolution Inherent Technology Management/User Requirements External Hidden impacts Different distributed rates

Software Comprehension Hard problem Compounded by distribution Problems: Code interactions Debugging and repeatability Unreliability of external sources

Distributed… …Project [Management] Or … [Project] Management Distinction important Influences decisions Central repository/planning/ visualisation

Summary Background Initial issues to consider Organisational e Visualisation example Additional concerns

What You Can Do Archive decisions Preserve historical data Plan for the future Visualise For understanding For communication

Questions?